Stephen Colbert took his new post as CBS' Late Night host Tuesday evening.

Comedy Central's former Colbert Report anchor opened the late-night show (David Letterman relinquished his headlining hosting duties after 22 seasons on May 20) by running to the stage with a standing ovation from the audience and upbeat number from the band.

In his introductory video, he sang the national anthem in numerous locations throughout the United States, including a baseball field, Lucky Strike bowling (he bowled a strike), grass fields and a metal shop, among others.

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Oprah Winfrey on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 12: Elvis Costello talks about his new book 'Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink' on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Monday Oct. 12, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 8: Stephen plays his didgeridoo for actress Cate Blanchett on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Thursday Oct. 8, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 5: Cellist Yo-Yo Ma plays with Jon Batiste and Stay Human on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Monday Oct. 5, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Actor Jesse Eisenberg on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Monday Sept. 29, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 8: Republican Presidential candidate Jeb Bush chats with Stephen on the premiere of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tuesday Sept. 8, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 25: Nobel Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Heather Wines/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: John Legend sings a duet with Stephen and accompanied by Jon Batiste on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Monday Sept. 28, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: First Lady Michelle Obama on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Monday Sept. 28, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 22: Donald Trump talks about his US Presidential campaign on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tuesday Sept. 22, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

Apple CEO Tim Cook on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tuesday Sept. 15, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 8: Stephen Colbert during the premiere episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tuesday Sept. 8, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 8: Stephen Colbert and Jon Batiste during the premiere episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tuesday Sept. 8, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 8: Actor George Clooney chats with Stephen on the premiere of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tuesday Sept. 8, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 8: Jon Batiste performs on the premiere of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tuesday Sept. 8, 2015 on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: A general view of the Ed Sullivan Theater exterior at the first 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' taping on September 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: Atmosphere at the first taping of 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' on September 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)

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"If I knew you were going to do that, I would have come out here months ago," he joked. "I am so excited to be here right now. I am also excited to be at home six hours from now watching this on TV." He continued with a quip about the recent Ashley Madison hack, "I begin to search for the real Stephen Colbert. I just hope I don't find him on Ashley Madison."

He told fans that he is "a first generation Letterman fan" and "for the record, I am not replacing David Letterman ... We will try to honor his achievement."

Jimmy Fallon also chimed in to Colbert's show with a video clip: "Have a great show, buddy. See you in the locker room."

CBS' Les Moonves sat in the audiences in a chair with a lever that had The Mentalist on one side and Late Show on the other and teased that he would switch shows depending on the Colbert's hosting abilities.

As Colbert was showing off his new studio, featuring various memorabilia, including the Captain America shield he brandished at the end of the Colbert Report, he pointed out a cursed amulet. Colbert explained that, as the amulet started to growl, in exchange for getting the show, he made a vow to an evil entity, whose full name he said he couldn't say because then the being would appear and "feast on the blood of the innocent," which he's "saving for sweeps." And the deal means he must make "certain regrettable compromises."

As viewers soon discovered as the growling continued, such compromises include plugging Sabra hummus, to which Colbert gave two quick shout-outs.

He then proceeded to joke about the presidential candidates. "Even though I have Jeb Bush on the show later tonight, I will be covering all the presidential candidates," he said, showing a circled photo of Trump, Bush and Hillary Clinton.

"Donald, the Trump, is at it again," he said, referencing a video about Trump's comments about Nabisco. "Donald Trump is swearing off of Oreos," Colbert said tearing an Oreo apart and dumping it in milk and later stuffing his face with Oreos.

"That is the only Trump story I'll be treating myself to tonight — well, maybe just one more," he joked about Trump's comments on a border wall between Mexico and the U.S.

George Clooney then took the stage and said to Colbert, "Big night, big show," before wiping off Colbert's face with a napkin that had Oreo cookie on it. "I am just here to see you and I think that's why everybody else is here," he said in reference to not having a show or project to publicize.

The two first discussed his work about bringing attention to the Darfur genocide: "My feeling was I can bring attention and make it louder ... It was a very hard thing to put on the map and keep on the map."

Colbert then joked about him being the "arm candy" of wife Amal Clooney, the actor admitting that said he's mostly "shiny" and "pretty." "It's going really well," he said of his first year of marriage.

Colbert then brought out a Tiffany blue box — joking that he didn't attend, and wasn't invited, to the couple's wedding — that contained an engraved "I don't know you" paperweight. "That's just to remind you that we don't know each other," Colbert said to Clooney.

"It's easier to come on these shows when you do have something to push," Clooney said before a comedic moment of silence between the host and actor.

"We could pretend that you have a movie right now," Colbert quipped, breaking the silence before a video of "Decision Strike" played of Clooney in the film spoof. "I was the director and I wrote it," Clooney joked before another clip played.

"I did my own sex. In fact, I do all of my own stunts. I feel the audience deserves it," Clooney said as more footage of "Decision Strike" aired.

Jeb Bush will join him later in the show, which the host teased about the GOP candidate, "This is the rare TV appearance where he doesn't have to share the stage with 16 other people".